”We designed VARDAGEN tableware and glassware because we wanted to make timeless, traditional and lasting items for your home. Inspired by old-fashioned craftsmanship, we gave every piece a distinct function. Attention to detail and soft, round shapes make a beautiful frame for the food and drink on the table. Simplicity and honesty are the words we use to describe the products. Each part of the series has a soul of its own, that brings back memories and creates new ones!”

Designing for the tastes of people around the world

In Swedish, VARDAGEN means “every day”, which is just how the cooking and eating products with that name are meant to be used, no matter where you live. The series is specifically designed to cater to the international trend toward transculturalism—a big word that basically means global eating and cooking habits are a lot more similar than you might think.

“Consumers have access to cultural diversity in cooking and eating from all over the world,” explains Ina Tidbeck Sjöblom, who works with the team that creates IKEA’s cooking and eating products. “They want to taste the best of all cultures.”
People are adventurous too, with 69% saying they like to let their taste buds travel, trying new and different cuisines. “Which means that it’s not only in Asia that we need to have eating products for sushi,” Ina says.

Creating products for all our differences (and similarities)

Transculturalism is about figuring out how to make differences into similarities too—a trick VARDAGEN does without anyone even noticing. How? The collection is designed so single products work in multiple ways.
Take the eggcup for example. It’s a staple on many European breakfast tables, but it can be something else too.
“We did the eggcup in a shape that it’s more like a very small dip bowl,” explains Ina. “So it’s also for Asian eating, you know this small bowl where you put your chili paste and other condiments.”
The small VARDAGEN bowl is another example of transcultural design. It’s the right size and shape to be the all-important rice bowl for Asian markets, and it’s just right to be used as a side-salad or cereal bowl in other parts of the world.

Answering the global demand for durability

“We haven’t done anything like it before,” says Ina. “It’s huge.”
VARDAGEN is the biggest collection of traditional cooking and eating essentials IKEA has ever released. And thanks to the versatility of the products, the series is uniquely suited to the global market—catering to the needs of eaters living from Hong Kong to New York and everywhere in between.
One thing people all over the world seem to agree on is the importance of durability.
“We know from all the studies and research we do that people don’t want to buy and throw away things, they want to buy something that lasts,” says Ina. “So, we chose to work with honest and durable materials that are long-lasting.”
VARDAGEN is made from durable and sustainable materials, like glass, porcelain and stainless steel. That means, just like the name VARDAGEN suggests, they’ll be useful every day for many days to come.

Simple yet timeless tableware with a traditional style, soft, round shapes and attention to detail that frames the food on your table well. Stack the smaller sizes inside the larger of the same range, to save space when not in use. http://www.ikea.com/my/en/images/products/vardagen-bowl__0416981_PE586307_S4.JPGVARDAGEN Bowl, clear glasshttp://www.ikea.com/my/en/catalog/products/80289262/802.892.62IKEARM4.90